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June 24, 1930. w. H. RAMSEY SIGN Filed Nov, 16, 1928 Jam lllL rey Patented June 24, 193

UNITED STATES mes 331 PATENT OFFICE SIGN Application filed November 16, 1928. Serial No. 319,986.

The invention relates to a sign such as generally employed by amerchant to indicate the character of goods offered for sale, or other data, or information to be conveyed to the public. a

The invention provides a sign which both actually displays the goods and conveys information by legend or symbol.

In accordance with the invention the sign 1 contemplates a frame having the. outline of a letter, or other symbol, or legend and constructed to hold the articles which are dealt in by the merchant andthus actually displayed.

embodiment of the invention, it is to be un derstood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention to in the following description and desig nated in the "several views, of the drawing fruit and vegetables.

by like reference characters.

The sign may consist of a legend, or symbol, such as a single unit, or a number of While the drawing illustrates a preferred and the merits thereof, reference is to be aorresponding and like parts are referred units, as letters, grouped to form a word. The symbol, .or letter, includes a frame 1 which may have any outline or shape. The frame is hollow and adapted to receive the goods or me chandise to be displayed and which may consist of fruit, nut, candies and sundry small articles capable of occupying a small space. The frame 1 may be of any construction and of a size to hold an appreciable number of the articles to be eX- admit of replacement or substitution of goods of a different nature. When fruit is displayed apples, oranges lemons and the like are placed within the frame. Nuts, candies, cigarettes and other small articles may likewise be advantageously displayed. The wire fabric closing the front of the frame may be attached in any manner to admit of ready replacement of the goods as Occasion may require. The front of the frame may be closed in any determinate Way to retain the goods in place without obstructing the view thereof.

When the. sign embodies a number of let ters grouped to form a word, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawing, the several units or symbols are connected by wires 2 engag-' ing staples 3 applied to the back of theletters or symbols. When the back of the frame is solid it will be provided with a plurality of openings 4 to insure ventilation which is essential when the goods on display are of a perishable nature, such as In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 the frame 1 is open at one end to adlongitudinally to disengage one end from a staple 6 after which it is moved in the opposite direction to disengage the op osite end from the other staple. After the rame 1 has been supplied with the goods to be displayed one end of the bar 5 is engaged with a staple 6 after which the opposite end of the baris engaged with the other staple,

v as will be readily understood. Flanges 7 extend inwardly from the side walls and provide wide surfaces against which the wire fabric closing the front of the frame may be firmly secured. The flanges will also constitute abutments to limit outward movement of large fruit placed in the frame.

When the frame 1 is formed from sheet metal, this being the preferable construc- 7 tion, the wire fabric closing the front is soldered thereto. An openlng is left or formed in the top of the frame for introducing or removing the goods and may be closed if desired. This opening is designated by the numeral 8 in Figure 1.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1 1. A sign comprising a series of symbols and means to support the same in operative relation to each other, said symbols each consisting of a frame open at the front and having the outline of the required symbol and adapted to receive loose goods to be dis played, and a wire fabric closing the front of the frame to retain the goods therein and admit of ready observation thereof.

'2. A sign comprising a frame having the outline of the required symbol or legend,

and adapted to receive the goods to be displayed, said frame being open at its front and at one end, a foraminous closure for the open front of said frame, a bar adapted to extend across the open end of the frame and having reduced-ends resting upon walls of the frame at opposite sides of the open end of the frame, and staples extending from the opposed walls ofthe frame to engage the ends of the bar and retain it in place.

3. A sign comprising a series of symbols and means to support the same in operative relation to each other, said symbols each consisting of a frame having the outline of portions secured against the outerfaces'of lating openings, and a wire fabric closing the front of the frame to retain the goods therein and admit of ready observation thereof and permit air to enter the frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. RAMSEY. [L. s.]

the symbol and adapted. to receive loose goods to be displayed, the front of the frame being open and the frame having inwardly extending flanges about the margins of its open front, and wire fabric for closing the r open front of said frame having its marginal 

